“I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and my sheep know Me – just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father – and I lay down My life for the sheep...” (John 10:14-15).
Have you ever heard the expression, “Black sheep of the family”?
Basically, when we refer to someone as the family’s “black sheep” what we really mean is that this person likes to do things in their own way and is unlikely to conform to the accepted norms within the family as they are a person who likes to do things differently.
I have been thinking about these black sheep. You see, there is generally one in every family. And for some families, this black sheep is the person who chooses not to have faith. They decide that though their family may have a fervent belief in God; they themselves, will not turn to God and will not practice any faith. They will not love God. They will not believe in Him. And they will – often (though not always) – ridicule their family members who do love God, believe in Him and practice their Faith in Him.
At times it can be quite exhausting to pray for such souls as these. You see, we love them so much and can see their error, and yet, we are unable to persuade them to accept God and have faith in Him. Knowing this, we see their struggles in life as they attempt – often unsuccessfully - to rely merely on their own powers to survive and succeed in life.
And I have been reflecting – with love – on those black sheep who are so dear to me.
And I have come to realise that though for all outward appearances it seems that they have no faith, I believe – through their baptism – these souls have a seed of faith and it is our job, as the people who love them, to pray them into salvation. And when we – as their loved ones – pray for them, begging God to call them to Him, there are great merits that we gain.
You see, these black sheep – the precious souls – are a precious gift to us as their families. You know such souls as these teach me to have a greater depth of love and charity for my neighbour. As I pray for them, I focus all my offerings on THEIR salvation, rather than my own. And this is what Christ meant when He said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31).
You see, in praying for those precious souls, I have learned to pray for them out of love for them and for no other reason – for I see great suffering in their lives, with great compassion. I feel such sorrow to know that they feel that they must bear all things without the almihghty support of their eternal Creator.
And in this way, such souls as these black sheep of mine, have helped me more than words can say. You see, they have helped me to love my Lord and God so much more than I could ever have loved Him without them. You see, through my prayers for them, I have had cause to reflect on the greater love of God for souls and His anguish when souls turn from Him. And I have learned patience in praying for souls such as these, for it takes great patience to wait for God to allow the conversion of these souls. I have learned perseverance in praying for my black sheep because I must persevere in my prayers for them. And I have learned humility, because I have come to realise that no matter how much I love these souls, God loves them more. And this has taught me to have faith. Because I KNOW that God has such love for each of these souls that I have no doubt in His ability to bring them to Him. And through this I have learned to TRUST in God.
For if I love these souls as much as I do and worry for their salvation, how much MORE does their CREATOR – GOD HIMSELF – love those souls?
And today – even in this very sad thing in seeing these troubled souls, these black sheep – I can see God working such great good!
And so – as I pray for those black sheep who I love so much – I remember the words of my Beloved, who said…
“I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and my sheep know Me – just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father – and I lay down My life for the sheep...” (John 10:14-15).
And I KNOW – I truly have NOTHING to fear… And I thank God for the GIFT of such black sheep as these – for my prayers for them have brought me great good...
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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